5 Tips for Preventing Cold Sores

With the holidays behind us now, I can honestly say…I’m relieved! 🙂 Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the holiday season, but between hosting family gatherings, work parties, shopping, wrapping, cooking, crafting…and the list goes on & on…I’m pooped! And stressed …and when I get stressed, I get the dreaded COLD SORES …DUN-DUN-DUN…(that’s me attempting to insert dramatic music). 🙂

So…I’ve been getting cold sores since I was 18. That means I’ve been getting them for six whole years now! 🙂 (HA! Yeah right). Let’s just say I’ve been getting them for A LONG TIME. Over the years, I’ve figured out what triggers them and how to either prevent them, or shorten their duration.

I tend to get cold sores when I’m super stressed about something, when I haven’t been eating and sleeping well, when I’m really sick, and especially when these things all line up around a certain time of the month.

Here are my tips for preventing cold sores and shortening their duration.

1. SLEEP
It’s a little bit difficult to control the amount of sleep I get with three sons who don’t sleep themselves, but I do my best to get as much sleep as possible. I go to bed when the kids do, and I nap when I have the chance (which is rare!) 🙂 I’ve noticed that my worst sleepless nights almost always result in a cold sore, and when I sleep great I get fewer of them!

2. DRINK WATER
Staying hydrated is a key to staying healthy, and just keeps the body functioning well. When I’m not drinking enough water, I feel sluggish, run-down, and tend to have more ailments. Water flushes the body of toxins and keeps me hydrated & feeling great. When I’m well-hydrated, I just notice I get fewer cold sores.

3. EAT RIGHT & TAKE A MULTIVITAMIN
Cold sores can pop up when you’re not getting enough of the good stuff in your diet. I try to eat a balanced diet, rich in vitamins and minerals, lots of fruits and bright colored veggies. When my diet is lacking in the right nutrients, I make up for it by taking a multivitamin. When I do what I should be doing in my diet, I feel great and get fewer cold sores. Win-Win! 🙂

4. DON’T STRESS
When I have a bad day…I mean, a really REALLY bad day…I almost always end up with a killer cold sore the next day, and it really, really sucks. I’m naturally a Type A, super stressed-out person. I wish I wasn’t, but I am. 🙁 It wreaks havoc on me internally, so to combat it I love to do things that relax me, like massages, meditating, and running. When I don’t let stress get to me, I get fewer cold sores.

5. MEDICATE
When all of the above fail to prevent a cold sore, I reach for the good stuff. Zim’s Advanced Cold Sore Kit has helped me both prevent cold sores when I’ve felt them coming on, and shorten the duration of my cold sores. It comes with two tubes, one to treat and one to maintain. Zim’s also makes lots of other great naturally-based products for stressed out skin, and so much more. We LOVE natural products! 🙂 You can view their family of products on their website at: www.zimsusa.com You can also like their Facebook page and get a coupon for $2 off any Zim’s product! 🙂

Zim’s Advanced Cold Sore Kit

And there you have it, boys and girls. My own personal tips for preventing and treating those dreaded, terrible, awful, annoying cold sores. 🙂

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